Sponsorship Opportunities

The Carbondale Chamber of Commerce offers a wide variety of ways to promote your business or organization to our members, ranging from free promotional efforts to event sponsorships. Opportunities include:

Email Opportunties

Chamber Connections FREE

is an email sent to all members—more than 600 business owners, managers, civic leaders and decision makers—on Thursdays which features Chamber events schedule, a list of upcoming events hosted by our members, job openings, press releases from area businesses and member-to-member deals. A feature of this email is the “Bulletin Board,” a collection of fliers submitted by members, displayed in a thumbnail image (linked to a full-size version) prominently highlighting special events and promotions.

Email Blasts $35 each

Information about your event, promotion or service is sent to hundreds of Chamber members—the owners, managers and leaders in area businesses, organizations, civic groups and churches—as a stand-alone email message. Your event and business name is even in the subject line of the email.

Mailing Lists

Mailing Labels $50

Do your own mailing to all Chamber-member businesses and organizations with mailing labels.

Electronic Mailing List $25

The Chamber will provide an electronic mailing list of all Chamber-member businesses and organizations for your mass mailing promotional materials. Electronic files are provided only to Chamber-approved printers or mailing houses for one-time use on your business’ behalf.

Web Presence

Enhanced Membership Listing $50 annually

Make your business stand out from others on the Chamber’s website. With an enhanced membership, your business’ listing gets a 1600-character description (compared to 200), 20 searchable keywords (compared to 8), your logo on your listing, inclusion in up to three categories, business highlights, photos or video and is always among the top listings in your category. Click here for a sample Enhanced Listing.

Chamber Website Home Page Banner Advertising $400 annually

With thousands of visits each month, advertising on the Chamber’s site pays dividends. Your 728 x 90 pixel banner (linked to your website) is one of just six that rotates at the top of the Chamber’s home page.

Make sure web visitors looking at your business category find you with a banner ad at the top of the category search page. Your 480 x 60 pixel ad links to your website.

Exhibitions and Presentations

Luncheon Sponsorship $100

Reach a captive audience at one of our Monthly Membership Luncheons. Your business is on display with exhibits, printed materials on the tables and up to five minutes on the luncheon program. Sponsorship includes two luncheon tickets.

Southern Illinois Home and Garden Expo $400 and Up

Reach hundreds of potential customers by exhibiting at the Chamber’s Southern Illinois Home and Garden Expo held in March at the SIU Arena. The show features products and services related to new construction, remodeling, home improvement and outdoor living. The Expo features both indoor and outdoor exhibition areas.

Event Sponsorship

Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet $250 and Up

The Annual Banquet is the Chamber’s signature event recognizing leaders and accomplishments from throughout the community. Each year’s catered dinner and special event attracts hundreds of community and business leaders. A variety of sponsorship levels are available. The 2017 Annual Banquet set for Friday, February 17 will be the Carbondale Chamber’s 100th Anniversary Banquet.

Southern Illinois Home and Garden Expo $500 and Up

Reach hundreds of potential customers partnering with the Chamber as a sponsor of the Southern Illinois Home and Garden Expo held in March at the SIU Arena. The show features products and services related to new construction, remodeling, home improvement and outdoor living.

Chamber Golf Scramble $125 and Up

Known for years as “Fun Day,” the Chamber’s annual golf scramble in June gives business leaders an opportunity to enjoy a day on the links while making new connections and renewing previous ones. The event includes raffles, on-course contests and more. A number of sponsorships area available and most include an option to have business representatives at the tee boxes to interact with participants.

Receptions and Special Events Varies

Throughout the year, unique events and opportunities arise allowing businesses to partner with the Chamber on special causes and events ranging from receptions at SIU athletic events, cultural performances and more. Call the Chamber for upcoming opportunities.

Other Opportunities

Ribbon Cuttings FREE

Announce your new business, location or services with a Ribbon Cutting. We bring the big scissors, ribbon and a crowd to learn more about your business. We promote the event through a variety of channels and invite the media, Chamber members, city officials and the public to celebrate with you!

Business After Hours FREE

Reach other business people with a social hour at your business. Share your products and services in a very casual, informal way. While there is no cost to book a Business After Hours, successful hosts find that providing food and drinks adds to the event.

Shop Local and Win $125

The Chamber’s ongoing holiday shopping promotion encourages area residents to shop in local businesses. Members of the public pick up punch cards at participating businesses and earn punches for their pre-tax purchases. Once a card has $250 in punches, shoppers turn their cards in to the Chamber and are entered in drawings for shopping sprees.

Eat Local and Win $50 + $25 gift card donation

Our popular summer eating promotion drives traffic to area restaurants. Diners earn punches on a restaurant passport -- one punch for each unique restaurant they visit. Once they have five or more punches they can enter to win gift cards to participating restaurants. The more restaurants they visit, the better their chances!

Member to Member Discount Card Varies

Each summer the Chamber distributes discount cards to every employee of every Chamber member -- 18,000 in all. Each card is valid for six months and includes discounts at businesses throughout the area. There is no fee for a business to include a discount on the card, just the cost of honoring the discount.

Saluki Stay Scholarship Program Varies

The Saluki Stay Scholarship is the most unique scholarship at Southern Illinois University. Five returning students who meet the award criteria (high GPA, at least two years at SIU, financial need and employed by a Carbondale Chamber member) are presented with in-kind gifts ranging from restaurant gift cards aid haircuts to grocery store gift certificates and $250 to use toward the purchase of text books. Some even receive a month of free rent. Dozens of Chamber members contribute cash and prizes to the scholarship.